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Local Government
Rochford District Council
Rochford District Council
Talking with Derrick Stansby, Chairman of Rochford District Council, 2010 to 2011 (14th February 2011)
(Councillor Stansby passed away shortly after this interview but we leave it here in memory and honour of his time in serving the community.)
Rochford Life: Can you distinguish for us please, between the role of the Chairman and that of the Leader of the Council
Chairman: The Chairman must be a-political, that is he is not political at all. The Leader is the leader of the largest party and sometimes that can be a coalition. But the Conservatives control the Council today with 32 members. The Chairman must be seen not to interfere with the political side of things of the Council. Whichever party he comes from, he’s got to stand aside from that.
RL: But your role is considerably more than just chairing meetings isn’t it.
Chairman: Oh yes, if I tell you that my wife and I – she comes with me on most of my outings – I’ve done about 140 visits to functions in my term so far this year since May. Your feet don’t touch the ground sometimes!
RL: You remain Chairman for just one year?
Chairman: Yes, that’s right, from the middle of May. We have the Annual Council in May when the Chairman changes over. Normally it is somebody different each year but if there was no one available that could happen, but people tend to have had enough after a year.
RL: You are, therefore, basically the public face of the Council?
Chairman: Yes, that’s right and apart from chairing meetings, my role is to bring the Council to the community. Yes, I chair the Council Meetings and sometimes there are extra-ordinary meetings as we’ve had recently. We also have the Association of Southend Councils because, for instance Southend Airport is mostly in Rochford apart from the front terminal buildings and I’m on the Consultative Committee for that. If I don’t stand again I won’t be qualified to sit upon it; it has to be Councillors.
RL: When you say, ‘If I don’t stand again’, is there a question mark over whether you will stand again? Will you be retiring?
Chairman: Well yes, I’m not getting any younger and I do feel that opportunities should be given to younger people as they’re coming through.
RL: You’ve been a Councillor since 2003 is it?
Chairman: I’ve been through my second term so it has been eight years. Previously many years ago I was a Hawkwell Parish Councillor which was a good grounding to take up the job as a district councillor. You are always learning. There are always a number of changes going through. Rochford originally had a full committee system which has now been consolidated into an Executive and sub-committees. I don’t sit on the Executive.
RL: Do you have any decision-making roles as a Chairman or are you completely outside the decision making process?
Chairman: I can contribute at meetings as an ordinary member, but I wouldn’t be political in that respect. You just treat it on its merits.
RL: Your resume says you’ve been a company secretary in the past which no doubt involved lots of decision making. It must be a bit of a change today from that? Do you keep an eye on the Council finances?
Chairman: Oh yes. I’ve been in big and small companies as an accountant, but it is very complex now and we have an excellent head of Finance, a very good lady. I’ve moved away from that sort of thing.
RL: Do you have any view on the ‘Big Society’ that is being spoken about today.
Chairman: Well you’re a part of it, and extension of it. I think it is a very good idea because with the financial situation as it is at the moment we need every volunteer we can get. One of the first meetings that I was taken to was handing out awards to the Scouts at Belchamps, and one lady had a length of service of about thirty years. Now that is dedication, taking the Scouts or Guides away. I feel a bit sorry because they used to have a big International Jamboree there but that seems to have gone now. I think it should be resurrected.
RL: When you come to the end of your term in May will you be able to look back and feel pleased you were able to do various things?
Chairman: Yes, there are a number of things, and some aspirations that I won’t achieve, for example, I presented a cup for the bowls club and was able to donate some steps they needed, odd things like that, and I did want to get a football tournament going but that hasn’t happened, but I might be able to do that after I’ve left.
RL: I suspect that, as you go out so much, it must give you almost a unique perspective on the working of the community. Is that so and what use can you make of that?
Chairman: Yes, through being Chairman you get good contacts where you can assist organisations to carry out their functions. I always have been community minded, not in depth but in spread, and this role helps express that.
RL: Supposing you do retire. What will you do in your retirement?
Chairman: Well, I’ll be able to go and visit a lot of places I want to visit but can’t at the moment. I may go to a number of places abroad, and even places in this country. Too many people take off abroad but don’t realise what is on their doorstep, so I’ll do both.
RL: Well thank you very much sir, for taking the time to share these things and, hopefully, bring greater clarity to our readers on the workings of the Council. Thank you again..
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(Councillor Stansby passed away shortly after this interview but we leave it here in memory and honour of his time in serving the community.)
Rochford Life: Can you distinguish for us please, between the role of the Chairman and that of the Leader of the Council
Chairman: The Chairman must be a-
Chairman: Oh yes, if I tell you that my wife and I – she comes with me on most of my outings – I’ve done about 140 visits to functions in my term so far this year since May. Your feet don’t touch the ground sometimes!
RL: You remain Chairman for just one year?
Chairman: Yes, that’s right, from the middle of May. We have the Annual Council in May when the Chairman changes over. Normally it is somebody different each year but if there was no one available that could happen, but people tend to have had enough after a year.
RL: You are, therefore, basically the public face of the Council?
Chairman: Yes, that’s right and apart from chairing meetings, my role is to bring the Council to the community. Yes, I chair the Council Meetings and sometimes there are extra-
RL: When you say, ‘If I don’t stand again’, is there a question mark over whether you will stand again? Will you be retiring?
Chairman: Well yes, I’m not getting any younger and I do feel that opportunities should be given to younger people as they’re coming through.
RL: You’ve been a Councillor since 2003 is it?
Chairman: I’ve been through my second term so it has been eight years. Previously many years ago I was a Hawkwell Parish Councillor which was a good grounding to take up the job as a district councillor. You are always learning. There are always a number of changes going through. Rochford originally had a full committee system which has now been consolidated into an Executive and sub-
RL: Do you have any decision-
RL: Your resume says you’ve been a company secretary in the past which no doubt involved lots of decision making. It must be a bit of a change today from that? Do you keep an eye on the Council finances?
Chairman: Oh yes. I’ve been in big and small companies as an accountant, but it is very complex now and we have an excellent head of Finance, a very good lady. I’ve moved away from that sort of thing.
RL: Do you have any view on the ‘Big Society’ that is being spoken about today.
Chairman: Well you’re a part of it, and extension of it. I think it is a very good idea because with the financial situation as it is at the moment we need every volunteer we can get. One of the first meetings that I was taken to was handing out awards to the Scouts at Belchamps, and one lady had a length of service of about thirty years. Now that is dedication, taking the Scouts or Guides away. I feel a bit sorry because they used to have a big International Jamboree there but that seems to have gone now. I think it should be resurrected.
RL: When you come to the end of your term in May will you be able to look back and feel pleased you were able to do various things?
Chairman: Yes, there are a number of things, and some aspirations that I won’t achieve, for example, I presented a cup for the bowls club and was able to donate some steps they needed, odd things like that, and I did want to get a football tournament going but that hasn’t happened, but I might be able to do that after I’ve left.
RL: I suspect that, as you go out so much, it must give you almost a unique perspective on the working of the community. Is that so and what use can you make of that?
Chairman: Yes, through being Chairman you get good contacts where you can assist organisations to carry out their functions. I always have been community minded, not in depth but in spread, and this role helps express that.
RL: Supposing you do retire. What will you do in your retirement?
Chairman: Well, I’ll be able to go and visit a lot of places I want to visit but can’t at the moment. I may go to a number of places abroad, and even places in this country. Too many people take off abroad but don’t realise what is on their doorstep, so I’ll do both.
RL: Well thank you very much sir, for taking the time to share these things and, hopefully, bring greater clarity to our readers on the workings of the Council. Thank you again..
To return to top of page, please CLICK HERE
